Building on your child's educational journey
The 4th grade State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) represents an important milestone in your child's elementary education. As the second STAAR Test your child will take (following 3rd grade), this assessment introduces more advanced mathematical concepts and helps students develop stronger reading and writing skills. The STAAR 4th grade curriculum builds upon foundation skills and includes geometry, decimal operations, multi-step problem solving, and more complex reading comprehension.
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Welcome to 4th-grade STAAR Math practice! These questions are more advanced than 3rd-grade problems, incorporating concepts like geometry, decimals, and data analysis.
As parents, it's helpful to understand what skills are being tested. Here are some sample questions that represent what your child will encounter. Let's begin with a geometry problem. This question tests your child's ability to identify geometric shapes based on their properties.
Answer the following question:
Sam wants to grow his own vegetable garden. The plot of land Sam plowed for his garden has two obtuse angles.
Which figure could be the one Sam plowed?
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Correct!
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The correct answer is C.
An obtuse angle is an angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. Since the figure has two obtuse angles, it cannot be a square (which has only right angles), or a rectangle (which also has right angles).
So, the correct answer is C. Trapezoid.
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Now let's move to working with decimal numbers. This STAAR Test question assesses your child's ability to add decimal numbers, requiring them to properly align decimal points.
Answer the following question:
A man lifts two different weights at the gym.
What is the total weight of both weights?
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Correct!
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The correct answer is 9.58.
Write the numbers in vertical alignment. When adding decimals, align the numbers by their decimal points. Add extra zeros if necessary to ensure the same number of decimal places for both numbers. This helps avoid confusion.
Add each digit to the corresponding digit in the second number:
Understanding patterns and relationships is another crucial 4th-grade skill. Let's examine a function table:
Use the function table below to answer the question.
Number of Children | Number of Pencils |
3 | 9 |
5 | 15 |
8 | 24 |
10 | 30 |
12 | 36 |
How many pencils does each child have?
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Correct!
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The correct answer is B.
Looking at the table, we can identify the pattern between the number of children and the number of pencils.
All the numbers are multiples of 3
If we divide the number of pencils by the number of children, we see:
9 ÷ 3 = 3
15 ÷ 5 = 3
24 ÷ 8 = 3
30 ÷ 10 = 3
36 ÷ 12 = 3
This shows that each child has 3 pencils.
So, the correct answer is B. 3.
Data analysis and interpretation become more complex in 4th grade. This next STAAR sample question asks you to analyze information presented in a table:
Joey attends several activities after school. The table shows some of the activities and how many times he attended each one in a four-month period.
|
March |
April |
May |
June |
Soccer |
3 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
Crafts |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Trumpet Lessons |
1 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
Cooking |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Which of the activities that Joey is attending are most likely non-compulsory?
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Correct!
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The correct answer is B.
The key points are:
The 4th grade STAAR reading section features more sophisticated texts, including plays and informational passages. This play format tests your child's ability to follow dialogue, understand character motivation, and draw conclusions from text evidence.
The Mystery of the Missing Cookie
1.SCENE 1 [In the school cafeteria, during lunch break. Emma and Alex are sitting at a table with their lunches.]
2. EMMA: I brought my favorite chocolate chip cookie for dessert today. I've been looking forward to it all morning!
3. ALEX: Yum, that sounds delicious! I wish I had one too.
4. [Emma opens her lunchbox to find her cookie missing.]
5. EMMA: Oh no! My cookie is gone! I was sure I packed it this morning.
6. ALEX: That's strange. Are you sure you didn't eat it already?
7. EMMA: Positive. I've been saving it for last.
8. ALEX: Let's look around; maybe it fell out of your lunchbox.
9. [They search the area but don't find the cookie.]
10. EMMA: It's really gone. I wonder what happened to it.
11. SCENE 2[After lunch, in the classroom. Emma and Alex are talking to their teacher, Mrs. Green.]
12. EMMA: Mrs. Green, someone took my cookie during lunch.
13. MRS. GREEN: Are you sure, Emma? Maybe it's just misplaced.
14. ALEX: We already looked everywhere in the cafeteria.
15. MRS. GREEN: Let's not jump to conclusions. Cookies don't just walk away on their own.
16. EMMA: I know, but it's missing, and I didn't eat it.
17. MRS. GREEN: Let's think this through. Is there anyone who might have seen your cookie?
18. [Emma and Alex think for a moment.]
19. EMMA: Maybe Lily saw something. She sits at the next table.
20. MRS. GREEN: Alright, let's ask Lily after class.
21. SCENE 3 [Later, Emma and Alex approach Lily.]
22. EMMA: Lily, did you see what happened to my chocolate chip cookie at lunch?
23. LILY: Oh, your cookie? I saw a crow fly in through the open window and grab something from your table. Maybe that was it?
24. EMMA: A crow? I didn't even notice!
25. ALEX: That explains it! The mystery of the missing cookie is solved.
26. EMMA: I'm relieved it wasn't stolen by someone. Thanks for your help, Lily.
27. LILY: You're welcome. Next time, we should keep an eye on those sneaky crows!
Why is Emma upset in Scene 1?
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Correct!
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The correct answer is B.
The text explicitly states that Emma brought her "favorite chocolate chip cookie for dessert" and was "looking forward to it all morning!" However, when she opens her lunchbox, she exclaims "Oh no! My cookie is gone! I was sure I packed it this morning."
This clearly indicates that the reason Emma is upset is because her favorite cookie, which she was eagerly anticipating, is missing from her lunchbox.
The other answer choices do not accurately reflect the information given in the text:
Vocabulary becomes more challenging in 4th grade. This next question tests your understanding of context clues:
What does the word "misplaced" mean in line 13?
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The correct answer is C.
The question asks what the word "misplaced" means in line 13 of the passage. Looking at the context, Mrs. Green suggests that "maybe it's just misplaced" when referring to Emma's missing cookie.
Reviewing the answer choices:
So the correct answer is C. Put in the wrong place.
The explanation provided in the passage supports this, noting that "misplaced" suggests the cookie was "put somewhere unexpected or incorrect, rather than being lost or stolen."
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Now let's analyze character development and text evidence:
Which line from the story best supports the idea that Emma realizes the cookie wasn't stolen by a person?
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The correct answer is D.
This line directly reflects Emma's realization and relief that the disappearance of her cookie was due to an unexpected event (a crow taking it) rather than a person intentionally taking it. The other options (A, B, C) do not clearly support the idea that Emma realized her cookie wasn't stolen by a person.
Finally, let's practice with an informational text that tests main idea and detail comprehension: This informational text tests your child's ability to identify main ideas and supporting details.
Answer the following question based on the text:
The Journey of Monarch Butterflies
Every year, monarch butterflies embark on a remarkable migration journey, traveling thousands of miles from North America to central Mexico. This journey is a natural wonder, as these delicate creatures navigate using environmental cues like the position of the sun and the Earth's magnetic field. Monarchs begin their migration in the late summer and early fall, and it takes about two months to complete. Along the way, they face numerous challenges such as weather changes and habitat loss, but they persevere to reach their destination.
Once they arrive in Mexico, the monarchs cluster together in large groups on oyamel fir trees, creating a breathtaking spectacle. This overwintering period lasts until spring, when they start their journey back north. The return trip is completed over several generations, with each new generation flying part of the way. This incredible cycle of migration continues year after year, showcasing the resilience and determination of these butterflies.
What is the main challenge monarch butterflies face during their migration journey?
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Correct!
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The correct answer is C.
A. Finding food: While finding food is a general challenge for many species, it is not specifically highlighted as the main challenge in this text. Therefore, A is incorrect.
B. Navigating using the position of the sun: The text mentions that monarch butterflies navigate using the position of the sun, but it does not frame this as a challenge. Instead, it is described as a part of their natural navigation abilities. Therefore, B is incorrect.
C. Weather changes and habitat loss: The text explicitly mentions "weather changes and habitat loss" as challenges that monarch butterflies face during their journey. This makes C the most accurate answer.
D. Cluster together on oyamel fir trees: Clustering together on oyamel fir trees is described as part of their behavior during the overwintering period in Mexico, not as a challenge. Therefore, D is incorrect.
STAAR Test Reading Tip – Use the Context:
When facing questions about vocabulary, like Question 2, use the surrounding text to figure out the meaning of a word. Read the lines before and after, and think about how the word fits into the story.
For example:
In the line "Maybe it's just misplaced," Mrs. Green is suggesting the cookie isn’t lost forever or stolen—it’s just not where it’s supposed to be. This eliminates incorrect options.
Is your child ready for their 2nd STAAR Test? The jump from 3rd to 4th grade brings new challenges that require proper preparation. Our comprehensive STAAR PrepPack is specially designed for 4th graders and includes:
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